Bonus: Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Phil, Anika(2), & Tori(4) riding Elephant at the Renaissance Fair over a decade ago...

It has been one of our greatest joys as a family to frequent the zoo, be inspired by prehistoric animals, and be in awe at the creative genius of our Maker.  Lord willing we will be visiting
Queen Elezabeth National Park (Uganda) - and observe a number of these
"Other Worldly" creatures, in the wild.  

Chimps, Gorillas, Lions, Elephants, Hippos, etc...

In 2014 we embarked on a unique study with our student ministry, exhaustively combing thru the scriptures to surface details of prehistoric creatures.  We spent a lot of time in the book of Job, enamored by the biblical record of creatures then and now, and dumbfounded by accounts of:

Leviathan & Behemoth, and dare I mention the Unicorn of the bible [ unicorn study link ]

 

Faith Student Ministry - Field Trip to Science Museum "Ultimate Dinosaurs"

We retreated in the spring, for a few days in the Twin Cities marveling in the Science Museum @ Dinosaurs both from Northern Hemisphere, (which we are accustomed to) and the touring display from the Southern Hemisphere, (different species unaccustomed to our studies) - to which a portion of their collection came from Africa.

Documission - Faith Student Ministry

We followed up with a summer Documission Trip across the Great Plains, up the Rocky Mountains, and settled on a Dinosaur Dig Site up on a plateau.  To our amazement we unearthed a number of prehistoric bones/fossils; turtle shells, fish teeth, femur bones, neck bones, horns and a number of "other worldly" unknowns...  What a fantastic journey to lecture thru the scriptures, acquire real time fieldwork, experiment in the laboratory, and come away with a more firm foundation to our faith.

Documission - Dino Dig Expedition - Neck Bone Extraction

So... on to the Adventure that lies before the Campbell Clan in 2016 - putting our faith to the test - lecturing thru the scriptures among the natives of Uganda, acquiring real-time fieldwork in the wilds of Africa, experimenting in the laboratory of another culture, and refining the foundations of our faith.  Regardless of weather we see rhinos charging our jeep, hippos surfacing in the river, elephants jostling thru the underbrush, giraffes elegantly trimming trees, or the lion king on pride rock - we are anticipating the maturation of our Faith in Jesus to soar.

In nearly every adventure to speak of, be it the ancient stories of scripture or our present day testimonies in the west - we are not so naive to forget that the refinement of our faith comes through fire.  There have been, there are, and there will be difficulties ahead. After all, this is not a zoo we are headed to.  This is not a domesticated mission field.  Africa has a dark history, steeped in survival mentality, and a spiritual warfare beyond the visible terror.  So again we are not flippant when we petition you for prayers.  What may seem to some as a "glorified vacation", will no doubt be a test of character, a challenge to our faith, and a seemingly impossible cultural/language barrier - to which God again must exceed our anticipations.  For sure there will be some blood, sweat, and tears as we pray for the transformation of souls. Exhausting will be the lectures, difficult will be the translation delays, and disheartening will be those that reject the Gospel.  But the savannah grows ever more greener where the Gospel rains down, and the light of Jesus brings new life to a land/people.   After all Jesus is the ancient of days... predating the prehistoric.  (Daniel 7:9,13,22)